NAIDOC Week is celebrated annually across Australia in July. The theme for NAIDOC Week 2021 was ‘Heal Country!’
Heal Country! – calls for stronger measures to recognise, protect, and maintain all aspects of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and heritage. For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, Country is inherent to their identity. In the spiritual, physical, emotional, social and cultural realms.
For First Nations people of Australia, Country is more than a place. It refers to family, kin, law, lore, traditions and language.
Over many years, First Nations people have been calling for stronger measures to recognise and protect all aspects of their culture. Sadly, however, they are still waiting for more robust protections.
How can we heal Country?
We can support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people by hearing their pleas for better involvement and empowerment over Country. This involves embracing their cultural knowledge and respecting their values.
We can also help with resolving outstanding injustices which impact the lives of First Nations people by addressing historical and present injustices.
You can find out more about Heal Country here.
This week is celebrated not only in Indigenous communities, but by Australians from all walks of life. The week is a great opportunity to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
What NAIDOC stands for
NAIDOC originally stood for ‘National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee’. This committee was once responsible for organising national activities during NAIDOC Week and its acronym has since become the name of the week itself. Find out more about the origins and history of NAIDOC Week here.
Local community celebrations during the week are encouraged and often organised by communities, government agencies, local councils, schools and workplaces.
Have you thought about organising an event in your area? A few suggestions about how you can celebrate NAIDOC can be found on this website.
Wherever you live, you can take part in the celebrations. Find your local NAIDOC Week event: https://bit.ly/3qt4tgC